Dry socket is a common problem faced by people who have had a tooth removed. After the tooth has been removed, the gap in the gums starts hurting and can cause swelling in the face too. A dentist is usually unable to help in this case and can only prescribe painkillers or antibiotics in case of infections.
One of the simple ways of pain relief involves applying an ice pack on the affected area. You can also apply ice to the dry socket gap directly. Keeping the area clean will help in reducing the pain and avoiding an infection. A syringe can be used to clean the socket with lukewarm saline water. The frequency of this remedy can depend on how painful the condition is, but in general, this needs to be done once or twice a day. An extremely beneficial ingredient that will help reduce the pain is clove oil. Add a drop or two to a small piece of cotton and place it the dry socket gap. Clove oil is a natural analgesic, and its anesthetic properties will help reduce the pain considerably. You can repeat the process as required by replacing the piece of cotton with a fresh one. However, clove oil can be dangerous, so avoid using it for more than a few days. Alternately, you can also chew on a clove instead of using the above method. A warm salt-water gargle is also said to relieve pain and will clean the area too. Another very useful antiseptic from the kitchen is turmeric. You can use a pinch of turmeric powder in warm water to gargle with or simply apply some turmeric to a piece of damp cotton and place it in the socket. You can also massage your gums using a pinch each of table salt and turmeric powder. This will not only relieve the pain but also improve dental hygiene.
Some precautions must be taken to make sure that the condition does not get aggravated in any way. You must avoid using a straw to drink anything or suck on any food as it may cause more pain and discomfort by increasing the dryness. Avoid having foods or drinks that are either very cold or very hot as it may increase the discomfort you feel. Continually rinsing your mouth is also not advisable, so do this only enough to maintain dental hygiene. In addition, if you smoke, you must stop immediately, or at least avoid smoking completely for at least a week or till the dry socket problem is resolved. In case the pain persists or the swelling increases, you must consult your dentist again.